QUICK QUOTE

Raccoon

Raccoons are common throughout North America from Canada to Panama. In residential areas, they are found scavenging on household garbage. They seek shelter under decks, in roof voids, in sheds, and at tree lines. In Calgary, over the last five years or so, we are capturing 5-10 raccoons each summer. There is a low-level raccoon population that is gradually building. Raccoons can cause extensive damage to soffits, roof voids, roof lines, etc. They create latrines which can require extensive remediation. If you are not sure you have a raccoon versus other wildlife, contact your pest control service technician for the right advice and right pest control solution.

Professional Raccoon Exterminator – Calgary – Raccoon Treatment Service
403-475-6523
Peregrine Pest Control – Raccoon Removal – Calgary & area
All our raccoon treatment technicians are licensed applicators in the province of Alberta.
Peregrine Pest Control is Quality Pro Certified and ISN Certified.
*Our Calgary raccoon removal team has 60+ years of combined experience
Check out the Peregrine Pest Control team here

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Raccoons can live in a wide range of habitats, requiring only a source of water, food, and a protected area for denning in order to survive. The habitats best suited for raccoons are hardwood swamps, floodplain forests, fresh and saltwater marshes, and both cultivated and abandoned farmland. Raccoons home range sizes in urban areas is about 3 – 40 hectares. Raccoons feed off fruit and insects in gardens, leftovers in municipal waste and other easily available food sources. In urban areas, a large number of sleeping areas exist — areas such as hollows in old garden trees, cottages, garages, abandoned houses, and attics. The raccoon is also a strong swimmer, but only when forced to swim. It is known more for its climbing abilities. It is capable of making a variety of sounds, including whistling, shrieking, chattering, clicking its teeth, snarling and growling.

How to Identify a Raccoon

The raccoon is about 2 – 3 feet long and weighs approximately 10 to 30 pounds. It is distinctively marked, with a prominent black “mask” over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail. The animal is a grizzled salt-and-pepper gray and black, although some individuals are strongly washed with yellow. Raccoons from the prairie areas are paler in color than those from eastern portions of the region. Captive raccoons have been known to live for more than 20 years. Raccoons life expectancy in the wild is about 1.8 to 3.1 years, depending on the local conditions in terms of traffic volume, hunting, and weather severity. With the harsh winters in Calgary you would expect the life expectancy to be on the lower end.

OUR SOLUTION

One of the first steps with raccoons is to take the time to make sure you confirm you have a raccoon problem verse another pest issue. At Peregrine we have a variety of tools from thermal cameras, snake cameras, and pest cam to help identify animals in wall voids, roof voids, and under steps, etc.… Once we have confirmed that there is a raccoon problem the two most common eviction methods include the use of one-way doors and live trapping. Once the raccoons have been removed from the structure the entrance point(s) can be repaired and remediation can be done on any latrines that the raccoons may have created. The pest management programs we use at Peregrine focus on passive deterrence, exclusion systems, and live trapping. Ask to speak to your pest control service technician to find out the best solution for your structure.

COMMON CONCERNS

How do I know if I have a raccoon in my roof?

One of the easiest ways to confirm if you have a raccoon in your roof is by doing a visual inspection. This should be done by a pest control service technician who has the training and tools required to enter and exit safely from the roof line. When, visually, no raccoon can be spotted, there always tell-tale signs such as a latrine that can help determine the presence of raccoons. Placing a pest cam in the roof void or the use of thermal cameras are other tools that help confirm the presence of raccoons.

If I hear noises in my attic, what could it be?

Always remember the knock test. Knock on the wall where you are hearing the noise. If the noise stops, then reoccurs in the same general area within a couple of minutes, then it is probably mice due to a freeze response. Larger wildlife tends to have a flight response and will flee disturbance.